Giant Picture Blocks

We are going to be moving into a fully furnished home soon and it is kind of strange to be living in someone else's home and using all their things.  I need some ways to bring my own style and personality to our new home. I have been searching for non-traditional ways to display pictures around the house. Picture blocks are a great way of displaying pictures because it is easy to move them around and place them in different areas of the home like a shelf, mantle, or counter top.

 I took a trip to the hardware store in search of some wood. I always like to check out the scrap wood pile because you can find some great pieces for projects like this at discount prices. I ended up buying a total of 4 pieces for around $2. Then I had the lovely workers cut the wood pieces for me into 3 rectangles, and 2 small blocks. By the end of the trip I had 2 large squares, 3 rectangles, and 2 small blocks.

I sanded the wood pieces lightly on all the sides. Then I decided how I wanted to display the pictures of the wood pieces by standing up the wood on the side. (This is important because if you get wood from the scrap pile sometimes the wood will be warped or uneven). Next I painted the wood on all the sides leaving a blank space in the front where I would paste the picture.

While the paint was drying I cut our pictures to the correct size. There are several options in this area. You can cut your picture so it fits exactly the size of the wood or you can cut your picture smaller and put scrapbook paper behind the picture. I trimmed the sides with a rounded paper cutter and used rustic ink on the edges for a burned edge look.

Once the paint dried I used mod podge to glue the pictures to the wood. Paint a layer of mod podge on the wood, then the picture smoothing out all the bubbles, and finish with mod podge over the top of the picture.

Once your pictures are dry you can add embellishments if you want. I added a ribbon to the large picture and one to a smaller picture just for fun. Then using sand paper rough up the edges for a slightly distressed look.

Quick, easy, and cost efficient. That's my kind of craft.

Wood Pumpkins

Yesterday we had a girls craft day. I love these days. Great company, good food, the kids played, and we all get to go home with something fantastic that we made ourselves. I hosted and really wanted to make these 2x4 pumpkins from Lolly Jane.

 

It was kind of a crazy day trying to get all the supplies while dragging my 4 and 3 year old along but we made it. I started at Lowes but they wouldn't cut the 2x4. So onto Home Depot where the worker not only assisted me in cutting my 2x4s but gave me the left over pieces so a total of 12 pieces only cost me $1. Talk about a fantasticly low cost craft. I already had the paint, ribbon, glue, and nails and we gathered sticks from our yards for the tops.

There are full directions on Lolly Jane but here are some tips I found.

-glazing with the black paint. Use a wet paper towel and dip it in the paint. Then focus on the sides and crevices of your wood.
-I liked bows instead of just ties for the ribbon on the top as well.

They are rustic yet pretty and I love them outside my door next to my pumpkin sign. I was so pleased with the end product, and all the ladies were happy with their pumpkins they got to take home.

Holiday Block Decor

I love these 2x4 holiday block ideas. So simple and cheap but can really show off your creativity. I made some for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year...the best part is the letters are on both sides of the blocks saving space and easy to flip when the holiday changes.

Here is what you need:
-2x4s cut about 6 inches long (they will cut them for you at Home Depot)
-craft paint
-scrap book paper cut to the size of your blocks
-mod podge
-vinyl letters
-sand paper or a hand sander
-embellishments like gems or ribbons

Sand down all your blocks on all the sides. Paint the blocks on all the sides except the faces of the blocks. Paint some mod podge on the face of the blocks and paste your paper on the blocks. Then go over it with mod podge. Let dry and sand down your edges for a rustic look. Add your vinyl letters and embellishments. Cute, festive, and affordable.